Sorry!  I hit the “send” button instead of  “save.”  I guess I am having a BAD DAY with email and the CTPP listserv.

The IPUMS site http://usa.ipums.org/usa/sda/  provides an on-line table generator using the 2005 ACS public use microdata sample, that also allows for other statistical tests such as correlation, multiple regression, logit/probit regression.  It provides a way to create new variables.  And it is FREE!  So, if the Census Bureau is not including the table YOU want in their standard set, you can create your own table with this tool.

For example, in CTPP, we have a variable called “Means of Transportation to Work.”  However, in the microdata, this is two questions: 

How did this person usually get to work LAST WEEK?  List of methods.

How many people, including this person, usually rode to work in the car, truck or van, LAST WEEK?  __ persons

To separate “drive alone” from “carpool” you will need to use both variables:  TRANWORK and CARPOOL

The Public Use Microdata Sample is a SAMPLE of the ACS sample records, so this is going to be useful mostly for large geographic units, or national analysis. 

So, going back to my earlier email about “year of entry”, I could use the IPUMS to analyze the Census 2000 and the 2005 ACS data, and use the values to create a new variable.

Hope this is of interest to at least some of you!  Have a GREAT WEEKEND!

Elaine